Illuminating attachment for switch devices



ILLUMINATING ATTACHMENT FOR SWITCH DEVICES Filed April 25, 19:56

ATTORNE Patented Nov. 1, 1938 ILLUMINATING ATTACHMENT FOR swiTon- DEVICMorris L. Blgman, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application April 25, 1936, Serial No. 76,342

7 Claims.

This invention relates to switch devices of various kinds and classes,and particularly to the provision of an attachment adapted to be coupledwith a switch device to indicate the location of the device as well asto indicate the off or open circuit position thereof; and the object ofthe invention is to provide an attachment of the class and for thepurpose specified in the form of an electrically actuated member, suchfor example,

as a neon light or glow lamp, with means for mounting or supporting thelamp in such position asto render the same visible externally of theswitch device or the mounting or finish plate of such a device so as toindicate the location of the device in a dark room or compartment; afurther object being to provide an attachment of the class describedwhich may be coupled and uncoupled with a switch device withoutmodifying the structure of the device or interfering with the operationthereof; and with these and other objects in view, the inventionconsists in an attachment of the class and for the purpose specified,which is simple in construction, eflicient in use, and Which isconstructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

ing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement aredesignated by suitable refer- 3o ence characters in each of the views,and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front and sectional view of one form of attachment which Imay employ, illustrating its mounting in connection with one type of 3:,switch device.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the arrangement of theilluminating device in the 40 electric circuit controlled by a switchdevice.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing only a part of theconstruction and showing a modification.

Fig. 5 is a face view of a switch device showing 45 another form ofattachment.

Fig. 6 is a side and sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 shows a modified form of switch plate which I may employ; and,

50 Fig. 8 is a plan view of a'switch device controlling an electriccircuit or appliance, with one of my improved attachments mounted inconnection therewith.

I In ca. ying my invention into effect, I propose 5 to provide anattachment which is so constructed as to provide a quick and simplifiedcoupling or mounting of the attachment in connection with various kindsand classes of switch elements so as to provide means for locating theposition of a switch element, especially in a dark roompr com- 5partment, as well as to indicate the off or open circuit position of theswitch.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, I have shown one form of construction,and in these figures, It) represents an outlet box or casing ofconventional 10 form in which is mounted a body of insulating materialll forming the switch body proper, and on which is supported theconventional screw terminals l2 and I3 with which the circuit wires l4and I5 are coupled. At It, I have shown the 15 movable switch elementwhich opens and closes the circuit through the wires l4 and IS in theusual manner, and as the structure of the element l5 and its associatedparts forms no direct part of this invention, and as these elements arewell known, no specific disclosure or description is herein made.However, in Fig.3 of the drawing, the element I6 is shown in adiagrammatic illustration in its relationship to the wires I 4 and I5 tocomplete the circuit therethrough and through 25 the wire Ma, in whichwires a suitable electric light or other appliance I! may be arranged.

In switch devices of the kind illustrated in Figs.

1 and 2 of the drawing, an outer wall finishing plate I8 is usuallyemployed through which the 30 switch element l6 projects. The plate 18is held in place by screws H! which couple with extending arms 20 on thebody II in the conventional manner.

At 2 I, I have shown an illuminating attachment which is in the form ofa hollow casing in which a neon light or glow lamp 22 is adapted to besupported and to be exposed externally through apertures or openings 23formed in the casing 2|. The casing includes at one end portionhookshaped arms 24 which are adapted to extend around one beveled edgeportion Illa of the plate I8 in the manner indicated in Fig. 2 of thedrawing to support the housing 2| upon the plate I8 in any desiredposition of adjustment. While the casing is shown supported above theelement I6 in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the same may be supported belowsaid element or at either side thereof, and especially in locating thelamp 22 in close proximity to the terminals l2 and 13 of the switch bodyI I. Extending from the lamp 22 are circuit wires 25 and 26 which couplewith resistance plates or elements 21 and 28. These elements are coupledwith the binding posts I! and I3 as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2of the II drawing, and 'also diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3. Thewires and 26 will be insulated from the point extending from the lamp 22to the respective resistance plates 21 and 28. These wires will extendthrough a housing portion Zia on the casing 2| and intermediate thehookshaped members 24.

With this construction, when the switch element I6 is moved into the onor closed circuit position to complete the supply of electric energy tothe member I1, the circuit to the neon light or glow lamp 22 will be cutoff. However, when the switch element is moved into the off or opencircuit position, the electric circuit will be completed through saidneon lamp, and the same will be illuminated to indicate the position orlocation of the switch, especially in a dark room or compartment, or ininstallations such as that disclosed in Fig. 8 of the drawing, the neonlamp will be utilized to indicate in a switch of the type herein shown,the off or open circuit position of the switch. In this Fig. 8, I haveshown at 29 a switch device of more or less conventional form, and suchas is employed in an extension cord controlling various kinds andclasses of electrical appliances, electric irons, toasters and the like,the switch device consisting of separate parts secured together byscrews 30. At 3|, I have shown the manually actuated switch element foropening and closing the circuit in the customary manner. At 32, I haveshown one of my attachments in the form of a casing supported betweenthe separate parts of the device 29, the casing being aperturedasindicated at 33 to expose a neon bulb 34 therethrough, which bulb isplaced in circuit with the terminals of the switch 29 in a mannersimilar or equivalent to the attachment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of thedrawing, and diagrammatically illustrated in-Fig. 3.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing, I have shown a slight modification of theconstruction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which an elongated casing 35 isdisposed horizontally across the top of the plate l8 and is supported inconnection with one of the screws l9 employed for retaining the plate I8in position. With this construction, the casing 35 includes a hollowextension 36 through which the wires from the neon bulb 31 pass. Thisextension 36 may or may not include the hook-shaped members similar tothe members 24. The casin 35 will have elongated apertures 38 forexposing the neon bulb therethrough.

In Fig. '7 of the drawing, I have shown another method of carrying myinvention into effect, which consists in substituting for the plate I8,a plate 39 of similar general form but modified in its construction bystamping from the front wall or surface thereof an outwardly projectinghollow casing portion 40 preferably adjacent the switch element Ma, andin providing apertures 4| in the hollow portion 40 so as to expose aneon glow lamp supported within the casing portion 40 through saidapertures. In other words, instead of providing an independent casingpart, the finishing plate may constitute the attachment to provide meansfor supporting and arranging the neon lamp n position to be seen, toindicate the location of the switch in a room or compartment. In thisconnection, it will also be understood that it is not absolutelyessential that the neon light be arranged beyond or outwardly of thesurface of the switch plate, but this arrangement is preferred, in thatit enlarges the angle of visibility, and thereby simplifies the problemof locating the position of a wall switch of this type.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, I have shown another form of attachmentwhich differs primarily from the structure shown in the other figures bythe inclusion of a movable element on the attachment. In these figures,I have shown at 42 a casing including hook members 43 for engaging theplate I8 of the switch. At one end of the casing 42 is an upstandingwall 44 in connection with which a supplemental casing 45 is slidablymounted by virtue of a pin 46 operating in an elongated slot 44a in thewall 44 so as to permit free swinging movement of the casing 45 withrespect to the casing 42. The casing 45 has a portion 41 which isadapted to be slipped onto and'frictionally engage the switch elementHib and to be movable therewith. The casing 45 also includes acylindrical portion 48 in which a neon lamp or bulb is supported andexposed through apertures 49 formed in said cylinder, the wires from theneon bulb 50 extending through the casing 42 and being coupled with theterminals of the switch as in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe drawing.

While I have shown a few forms of attachments, and have indicateddifferent arrangements thereof in connection with switch devices, myinvention is not limited in these respects, and the same may be appliedto various kinds and classes of switch devices, and the structure of theattachment will be modified to suit the different forms and constructionof switch devices employed.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a switch device employing a conventional coverplate, of an illuminating attachment detachably supported upon the outersurface of said plate and arranged within the peripheral boundariesthereof, said attachment comprising an apert'ured casing, said casinghaving clips for clamping the same to one edge portion of said plate anda neon lamp mounted in said casing and having Wires projecting therefromand in circuit with the circuit wires controlled by said switch device.

2. An attachment for the cover plate of switch devices of the classdescribed comprising a hollow casing arranged within the peripheralboundaries of said plate, the wall of said casing being apertured torender the interior of the casing visible, a neon lamp arranged withinthe casing and visible through the apertures in the wall thereof, andsaid casing having a projecting hook-shaped portion for engaging theedge of the cover plate in retaining the attachment within theboundaries of said plate.

3. An attachment for the cover plate of switch devices of the classdescribed comprising a hollow casing arranged within the peripheralboundaries of said plate, the wall of said casing being apertured torender the interior of the casing visible, a neon lamp arrangedwithin'the casing and visible through the apertures in the wall thereof,said casing having a projecting hook-shaped portion for engaging theedge of the cover plate in retaining the attachment within theboundaries of said plate, means involving circuit wires with resistanceelements therein for placing said neon lamp in the circuit controlled bysaid switch device, and said projecting portion having a ch nnel throughwhich said circuit wire is passed ii on,

said neon lamp to said circuit.

4. An attachment for the cover plate of switch devices of the classdescribed comprising a hollow casing arranged within the peripheralboundaries of said plate, the wall of said casing being apertured torender the interior of the casing visible, a neon lamp arranged withinthe casing and visible through the apertures in the wall thereof, saidcasing having a projecting hookshaped portion for engaging the edge ofthe cover plate in retaining the attachment within the boundaries ofsaid plate, means involving circult wires with resistance elementstherein for placing said neon lamp in'the circuit controlled by saidswitch device, said projecting portion having a channel through whichsaid circuit wire is passed from said neon lamp to saidcircuit, andmeans for supporting said casing to move relatively to said hook-shapedpart.

5. An attachment for the cover plate of switch devices. of the classdescribed comprising a hollow casing arranged within the peripheralboundaries of said plate, the wall of said casing being apertured torender the interior of the casing visible, a neon lamp arranged withinthe casing and visible through the apertures in the wall thereof, saidcasing having a projecting hookshaped portion for engaging the edge orthe cover plate in retaining the attachment within the boundaries ofsaid plate, means involving circuit wires with resistance elementstherein for placing said neon lamp in the circuit controlled by saidswitch device, said projecting portion having a channel through whichsaid circuit wire is passed from said neon lamp to said circuit, meansfor supporting said casing to move relatively to said hook-shaped part,and means for supporting said casing in connection with the switchelement oi arm oi a switch device, of an illuminating attachmentcomprising a casing arranged at one side of said arm and detachable andmovable therewith, a neon glow lamp arranged in said casing and havingwires in the electric circuit controlled by said switch arm, meanscoupled with the switch device independent of said arm for housing thewires extending from said neon lamp, and said last named means forming asupplemental guide for said casing.

Mortars L. BIGMAN.

